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When Gospel Music Really Began
Gospel Music has been traced back to the 17th century and is a music genre in Christian music. There are many different kinds of gospel music such as bluegrass and gospel blues, this music has influenced many types of genres. It is said that gospel music really began in 1930 because this is when the National Baptist Convention first publicly endorsed the music. -
Robert Johnson “The King of the Delta Blues Singers”
Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician. Johnson was not very popular during his lifetime and little is known about him, this was because of his skin color. It was not until the reissue of his 1936-1937 recordings that he was recognized as a master of the blues. His singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent has influenced later generations of musicians. He is credited by many rock musicians as an important influence, Johnson was even inducted into the Rock -
Barbershop Quartets
Barbershop music in 1939 is when artist started to actually sing songs with understandable lyrics and easily singable melodies. Songs started to become catchy instead of music only sang in church and for religious reasons. -
The Mills Brothers
The Mills Brothers were a quartet of singing siblings from Piqua, Ohio. In 1943 they recorded "I'll be Around" which was a hit. They also recorded "Paper Doll" in fifteen minutes which sold six million copies and became the group's biggest hit. -
The "Father of modern Chicago blues" is discovered
In 1943, Muddy Waters moved to Chicago and began playing in clubs. A record deal followed with Chess Records and hits like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Rollin' Stone" made him a famous Chicago blues man. -
Muddy Waters buys his first electric guitar
In 1944 Muddy Waters bought his first guitar and changed the blues forever. His guitar could be heard in his music in 1948 and it was raw, dirty, and, gritty, but it wasn't loud. It just sounded that way because of the amplification from the guitar. -
Doo Wop Becomes Popular
Doo Wop is a style of pop music with the use of close harmony vocals using nonsense phrases. Doo Wop singers were usually in a group of four or five. A lead vocalist with a high voice would sing the melody and lyrics a song, while the other members sang nonsense syllables in the background. Doo Wop originated in African-American communities, but white singers imitated black singers for white audiences. -
Bo Diddley records “Bo Diddley”
Bo Diddley had a huge influence in transforming Blues music into Rock music, though he never set out to accomplish anything other than playing his own unique style of music. He had a percussive guitar technique that differed greatly from the traditional Blues style that influenced many other guitarists. Bo Diddley also used name-checking like many artist do today. -
Chuck Berry records “Maybellene” with Chess Records
Chuck Berry was Born 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri, a very segregated city. Chuck started singing and playing the guitar in high school. He attended Sumner High School, which was an all black school. In the mid 50’s Chuck Berry started looking for a record contract in Chicago, he met Muddy Waters who suggested he go to Chess Records. A few weeks later Berry wrote and recorded the song “Maybellene” and took it to Chess, whom immediately offered him a contract. Many music historians consider "Maybe -
“The King of Rock and Roll’s” First Hits
"Hound Dog / Don't Be Cruel" was a double sided hit single that topped the Billboard Sales chart for 11 weeks in 1956. Elvis Presley became famous when he was 18 after recording “My Happiness”. On the radio everyone though Elvis was an African American because of his music, so when he said he was a student at Humes, an all white school, he rose to fame quickly. -
Johnny Cash’s First Hit
“I Walk the Line” was Johnny very first No. 1 hit in 1956 on Sun Records. The song had a crossover appeal and backed up Johnny Cash’s signature ‘boom-chicka-boom’ sound. It earned the record a place in the Grammy Song Hall of Fame and helped ‘The Man In Black’ earn a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. -
Chuck Berry records “Johnny B. Goode”
“Johnny B. Goode” was a rock and roll song that was very popular among black and white audiences. The song is one of Berry's most famous recordings and has been covered by many artists, and has received several honors. It is also considered to be one of the most recognizable songs in music history. The song is ranked as number seven on Rolling Stone's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". -
Sheb Wooley’s song “The Purple People Eater” reaches no. 1 in the Billboard pop charts
“The Purple People Eater” is an example of what was popular in the 50’s and how risque rock and roll was. This song was a novelty song which is a comical or nonsensical song, performed for its comical effect. -
The Beatles
In 1962 The Beatles came out with their first single “Love Me Do”. The song hit record stores all over England and was a surprising hit considering the name didn’t mean much at the time. They then released their next single “Please Please Me” and their fame kickstarted. The next year they came to America. -
America Meets The Rolling Stones
In 1964 The Rolling Stones released their first album and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” raced up the U.S. charts. From then on The Rolling Stones became the legendary and inspirational band they always will be. -
The Death of Elvis Presley
In 1977 Elvis Presley died of an overdose of prescription drugs and his death impacted the world. In the same way that many people remember exactly where they were when they heard President John F. Kennedy had been killed in the 1960’s, most of Elvis' fans remember where they were the day Elvis died.
